A2 APG News • Thursday, December 21, 2017 COMMANDER’S CORNER “I’ll be home for Christmas … What do you if only in my dreams.” want for For many of us, the lines from the classic daughters.A prayer for a letter from a loved Christmas? holiday song are familiar, but they may not one in a far-flung part of the world. A prayer hold any outsize significance. However, that the Western Union telegram delivery — when Americans first heard Bing Crosby which usually meant one thing — would Iwant a Nintendo deliver them during the holiday season in pass by. Switch [a video 1943, they struck an extraordinary national In fact, some historians have said that for game console.] chord. service personnel and their families, the Written by Kim Gannon in 1942, the only inspirational patriotic song that equal- words to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” ed “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was “God represent the point of view of a Soldier Bless America.” longing for home. The song also resonated with people That year, the war had cast a pall over a outside the military. Many of them had normally joyful time, as it was the first migrated to and other major holiday season of the wartime period to citiesto work in factories to support the war Savanna occur while hundreds of thousands of U.S. effort and were spending their first holiday “ Murdock servicemen and servicewomen were de- season away from home. Age 13 ployed abroad. And by that time, many The song continues to move people families had already lost loved ones. today, and with good reason. Because ABrooklyn native who knew many through 16 years of continuous combat, and military families, Gannon sought to capture with thousands of service members and this national mood of melancholy. With civilians operating in harm’s way, we are music composed by , Crosby still a Nation at war. APower Wheel car. recorded the song in October 1943. It Regardless of the holidays you observe became a huge hit, charting for11 weeks and this season, I encourage you to remember U.S. ARMY PHOTO peaking at No. 3, and was the most “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” as a reminder On behalf of the entire Aberdeen Proving requested song at USO shows that Christ- of the sacrifices of our warfighters and our Ground community, I wish you and your mas. ongoing responsibility to support and family a safe and happy holiday season and The song itself was straightforward, honor the service of the more than 22,000 new year. consisting of only16 lines.Andwith noovert veterans in Harford County. America’s Army, Your Army! religious references, it didn’t sound like a Iam heartened by efforts like the Maj. Gen. Randy S. Taylor, APG Senior typical carol. But by capturing the complex Veterans Resource Fair held in Bel Air in Commander emotions millions were feeling, it became October, which drew more than 100 veter- Jahaziel more than a song. It became a prayer. ans, as evidence of Harford County’s “ Valentin Aprayer for the safe return of sons and commitment to upholding this charge. Age 9 New street names and addresses Instead of receiving gifts,I would like to travel to Puerto Rico take effect Jan. 16, 2018 this Christmas. That’s where my family is from. APG News & APG Directorate of Public Works Public safety the visitor centers at the APG North (Aberdeen) and APG South (Edgewood) The final phase of a years-long process to Charles Eckert, chief of the DPW Engi- entry gates. Electronic copies of the strip change street names and addresses on neering Division, said public safety is the maps have also been given to facility Aberdeen Proving Ground will become root cause of the changes. managers. It should be noted that while Melly effective Jan. 16, 2018. “APG is converting to a street addressing street names and numbers are changing, “ Maldonado On this date, covers will be removed on system as a public safety initiative tied to building numbers will remain the same. Age 16 countless street signs, revealing new street APG’s enhanced 911 system, which will be names across the range and cantonment compatible with the 911 Emergency Re- Official mail address format areas of APG North (Aberdeen) and APG sponse System used in the surrounding South (Edgewood). The most recent counties,” he said. Tenant and Garrison personnel should changes will apply to all organizations “This involves renaming streets whose use the following addressing format effec- assigned to APG receiving official mail. names are duplicates of those in the tive Jan. 16, 2018. Super Mario Earlier in 2017, housing and recreation surrounding counties and revising the APG North (Aberdeen) Odyssey, a video lodging areas converted to the new street building addresses to comply with the APG North Employee Name game for Nintendo names and addresses. The Directorate of Postal Service address num- Organization Name Switch. Public Works continues to work with local bering convention. This will eliminate Building # (No Change), Room # and commercial partners to help expedite confusion as to the location of emergencies New USPS Street Address address databases updates. and result in faster response times.” Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 “The address and street name changes on He added that the updating of GPS APG South (Edgewood) APG may seem like an unnecessary hassle, systems is “an involved process.” APG South Employee Name but it makes us safer in the long run,” said “[It]requires submission of the street and Organization Name APG Garrison Commander Col. Rob address revision to Harford County which Building # (No Change), Room # Tyler Murdock Phillips. “Emergency services will now be then incorporates the changes into its New USPS Street Address “ Age 10 able to get to locations on-post faster,” he roadway system database. The revised Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010 said adding, the installation-wide effort will database is then pushed to the State of Those who are unsure of their new bring APG up-to-regulation with a stand- Maryland for incorporation into its data- address should contact their facility man- ardized addressing system. base. GPS systems will download the state’s ager.Fororganizations that utilizethe USPS “We learned some tough lessons during database to update their systems, based on Bldg. 4510 as their official mailing address, the transition of residential addresses,” each provider’s schedule,” Eckert said. the address will change from “4510 Boothby Phillips said. “Harford County has forwarded the Hill Ave” to “6429 Boothby Hill Ave”. Awhole bunch of “The Garrison is working diligently to revised database to the State of Maryland For organizations that utilize P.O. boxes Paw Patrol toys. bring us back on course as we move into the [and] it is anticipated that the new street at the Aberdeen and Edgewood post offices, final phase of the change-over. Our subject names and addresses will take upwards of there is no change to the requirements. matter experts are working to educate on- 180 days to be incorporated into third-party For more information, contact Stevan and off-post communities to ensure both mapping services.” Band at 410-306-1158, or ste- mail and visitors can find their intended Strip maps with the revised street names [email protected]. destinations on APG.” have been prepared and will be available at

Skylar Scott “ Age 5 Tell them yousaw it in the APG News

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